Saints U20's 2-0 Inverness U20's

Saints U20’s picked up their second win in seven days with a 2-0 win at home to bottom club Inverness at McDiarmid Park on Monday evening, a deserved first home victory this season.

The result takes the youngsters up to 10th place in the SPFL Development League table, after sitting in 14th position going into the match.

St. Johnstone started the game well with Connor McLaren coming close with a free kick in the fifth minute that landed on the roof of the net, before the visitors hit back resulting in left-back Cameron Thomson having to clear the ball off the line on two occasions.

The rest of the first half, however, was all Saints. Ali McCann, Paul Simpson and Greg Hurst all came close with Connor McLaren in particular proving to be a real menace in attack for the home side, coming closest in the 42nd minute when his effort beat the goal keeper but was cleared away by Caley defender Stephen Rennie. McLaren also had another effort on goal just before the interval, but it was well saved by Daniel Hoban between the sticks for Inverness.

After the break Inverness came close with a Lewis Horner header but a minute later it was St. Johnstone who took the lead.

McLaren, who was unlucky not to score in the first half, finally made the breakthrough with a goal in the 54th minute. The youngster from Auchterarder managed to slot the ball home after great play by substitute Cameron Lumsden.

Two minutes later and the lead was doubled when a fine Greg Hurst strike beat Hoban to make it 2-0 Saints.

In the 64th minute Hurst could have increased their advantage but when through on goal he managed to drag his shot just wide of the far post.

Saints saw out the game after that and the solid centre-half pairing of Tam Scobbie and Liam Gordon limited the Highlanders to only one shot after that through Lewis Horner, who fired his effort over the bar in the 73rd minute.

A late penalty shout for Cameron Thomson (79) and a Robbie Polson (86) shot that went just wide were the only incidents of note after that as Saints closed out their opponents to seal a comfortable home win.

Next up is a Scottish Youth Cup match away to Forfar Athletic on Thursday night (7.30pm kick off).